General Books : Education

The Elephant in the Staffroom is the survival guide that every busy teacher needs for practical advice on teacher wellbeing. Written in an informal, conversational style, the book is divided into 40 bite-size chunks, covering a range of essential topics from understanding and avoiding burnout, to successful working patterns, and even surviving the school holidays!


Complemented by a host of top tips, the book focuses on five key themes:








the psychology of the teacher







teacher identity







emotional and physical energy







keeping focused and investing in yourself







colleagues, students and inspection





Chapters are designed to be easily dipped in and out of, with each exploring the unique nature of the teaching profession and how to cope with, and conquer, a variety of stress triggers and psychological aspects of teaching - `elephants' in the staffroom - to survive and succeed.


Written by a head of department with over twenty years of classroom experience, this essential guide offers a wealth of practical advice on stress, work-life balance and organisation, and is a must-read for practising teachers.

ISBN: 9781138681484
Publication date: 23/09/2016
Price: $48.99
Author: Eyre, Chris
Format: Paperback

One of the five books in the Mental Health and Wellbeing Teacher Toolkit for teachers and other professionals working with children, this practical resource focuses on the topic of 'Emotional Literacy' and how to support children and young people on a journey of self-discovery where they learn to recognise, understand, share and manage a range of emotions. Promoting a proactive rather than a reactive approach to dealing with the social and emotional aspects of learning and managing the world of today, Emotional Literacy addresses the increasing number of mental health issues arising among young people. Chapters span key topics including Recognising Emotions, Understanding Emotions, Self-Regulation and Empathy. This book offers:


* Easy to follow, and flexible, lesson plans that can be adapted and personalised for use in lessons or smaller groups or 1:1 work.


* Resources that are linked to the PSHE and Wellbeing curriculum for KS1, KS2 and KS3.


* New research, 'Circles for Learning', where the introduction of baby observation into the classroom by a teacher is used to understand and develop self-awareness, skills for learning, relationships, neuroscience and awareness of others.


* Sections on the development of key skills in communication, skills for learning, collaboration, empathy and self-confidence.


* Learning links, learning objectives and reflection questions.


Offering research-driven, practical strategies and lesson plans, Emotional Literacy is an essential resource book for educators and health professionals looking to have a positive impact on the mental health and wellbeing of the children in their care; both now and in the future.

ISBN: 9781138370272
Publication date: 05/04/2019
Price: $82.99
Author: Waterhouse, Alison
Format: Spiral Bound

How much thinking have you done about gender?

What does it feel like to be gay, trans or non-binary at school?

How unbiased, safe and inclusive are our teachers, our schools and our systems, and what can we do about it?

The time is ripe for a re-think, and the issues are pressing. Our pupils are grappling with challenges around gender and sexuality, and they need our well-informed support. Providing evidence, prompts and the space to explore the implications, restrictions and constructs of gender, this book is here to help every teacher reflect on issues around gender roles and expectations in their class.

In this challenging and potent book, experts, academics and campaigners join forces to contribute important perspectives to complement Rycroft-Smith's own accessible and often provocative explanations of many facets of gender and sexuality, including media, literature, toys, clothing, sexism, expectations, sexuality, gender roles, harassment and consent. Humour and anecdotes are thoughtfully intertwined with fascinating insights into biological and cultural perspectives and societal norms, highlighting why it's so vital to teach pupils about gender issues, as well as modelling consent, good quality relationships and tolerance to children at all ages and stages of their school career.

Providing clear, practical policy recommendations in an accessible and engaging way, The Equal Classroom is an essential read for any teacher or education professional who wants to ensure their school is a place where all pupils feel truly welcome and able to flourish, comfortable and safe in their emerging identities.

ISBN: 9781138491021
Publication date: 29/11/2019
Price: $43.99
Author: Rycroft-Smith, Lucy
Format: Paperback

An illustrated memoir of living with specific learning difficulties.



A hilarious and heartfelt illustrated memoir of living with specific learning difficulties. In Everything is Going to be K.O. , Kaiya Stone writes about her experiences of living with specific learning difficulties: from struggling at school, to being diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia at university, and performing her own one-woman stand up show inspired by her journey. Always funny and unfailingly honest, Kaiya not only outlines the frustrations of having SpLDs, but also the ways in which they have fuelled her creativity. She calls for neurodiversity to be celebrated so that instead of questioning how we are 'supposed' to think, we instead take pride in our cognitive differences. Everything is Going to be K.O. is for anyone who knows, or has wondered, what it is like to live with learning difficulties today.

ISBN: 9781789544985
Publication date: 07/01/2021
Price: $25.00
Author: Stone, Kaiya
Format: Paperback

As the head of Open Learning at MIT, Sanjay Sarma has a daunting job description: to fling open the doors of the MIT experience for the benefit of the wider world. But if you're going to undertake such an ambitious project, you must first ask: How exactly does learning work? What conditions are most conducive? Are our traditional classroom methods - lecture, homework, test, repeat - actually effective? And if not, which techniques are?



Grasp takes readers across multiple frontiers, from fundamental neuroscience to cognitive psychology and beyond, as it explores the future of learning. For instance:



Scientists are studying the role of forgetting, exposing it not as a simple failure of memory but a critical weapon in our learning arsenal

New developments in neuroimaging are helping us understand how reading works in the brain. It's become possible to identify children who might benefit from specialised dyslexia interventions - before they learn to read

Many schools have begun converting to flipped classrooms, in which you watch a lesson at home, then do your 'homework' in class



Along the way, Sarma debunks long-held views such as the noxious idea of 'learning styles,' while equipping readers with a set of practical tools for absorbing and retaining information across a lifetime of learning. He presents a vision for learning that's more inclusive and democratic - revealing a world bursting with powerful learners, just waiting for the chance they deserve.



Drawing from the author's experience as an educator and the work of researchers and educational innovators at MIT and beyond, Grasp offers scientific and practical insight, promising not just to inform and entertain readers but to open their minds.

ISBN: 9781472139115
Publication date: 20/08/2020
Price: $37.99
Author: Sarma, Sanjay
Format: Trade Paperback

At times children are unable or unwilling to access or engage with emotional and mental health support services. Often members of a child's support network are therefore required to provide this emotional guidance and support to them. This resource book is intended to be used as a guide by families and friends, school staff, and any other adults supporting children who have experienced trauma, to help the adults to provide the emotional guidance these children need.


Guide to Re-building Trust with Traumatised Children aims to educate the reader about trauma and the impact of an insecure attachment - how it may impact a child, how to support a child - as well as helping the reader to understand different behaviours. The guide suggests many practical ideas and activities designed to help children to build more positive relationships, to feel safe within their world, and to express and explore their emotions. There is a section on self-care for adults, and advice about when a referral to a specialist service may be required.


This guide was designed to be used by any person supporting a child who has experienced trauma or an insecure attachment, no matter what their previous understanding of these issues might be. It is specifically written to be as accessible and as user friendly as possible to help rather than hinder the user. It can be used alone or together with the storybook The House That Wouldn't Fall Down.

ISBN: 9781138360471
Publication date: 26/06/2019
Price: $46.99
Author: Rankin, Hollie
Format: Spiral Bound

Whether it's the grief of bereavement, the strain of divorce or the uncertainty of a new home or school, loss and change affect children in countless ways. Nevertheless, teachers and parents frequently find themselves ill equipped to help children struggling with the difficult feelings that these situations, and others like them, bring. Helping Children Cope with Loss and Change offers guided support for teachers, health professionals and parents.





Designed for use with children aged 4-10, this guide offers:








Case studies illustrating various signs of grief and loss, to help the caregiver spot and manage a child's pain







Therapeutic stories designed to be read with the child, and with prompt questions to encourage discussion







Creative activities and exercises that can be developed into a therapeutic `toolkit' to support the child and the caregiver themselves





With chapters that move from Loss and Change to Resolution and Resilience, addressing the needs of both the child and caregiver, Helping Children Cope with Loss and Change will be an invaluable therapeutic tool.

ISBN: 9781911186281
Publication date: 28/08/2019
Price: $55.99
Author: Seyderhelm, Amanda
Format: Paperback

Based in cutting-edge research in neuroscience, education, and the principles of attachment-based teaching, this important guide for parents offers tools and practices to help children transcend language-based learning difficulties, do better in school, and gain self-confidence and self-esteem. If your child has a language-based learning difficulty such as dyscalculia, dyslexia, and auditory processing disorder they may have to work twice as hard to keep up with their peers in school. Your child may also have feelings of frustration, anger, sadness, or shame as a result of their learning differences. As a parent, it hurts to see your child struggle. But the good news is that there are proven-effective strategies you can learn to help your child be their best. This book will show you how. Helping Your Child with Language-Based Learning Disabilities outlines an attachment-based approach to help your child succeed based in the latest research. This research indicates that a secure attachment relationship between you and your child actually optimizes their learning ability by enhancing motivation, regulating anxiety, and triggering neuroplasticity. In this book, you'll discover why it's so important to accurately assess your child, find new perspectives on LBLDs based on the most current studies, and discover tips and strategies for navigating school, home life, and your child's future. Most importantly, you'll learn how your own special bond with your child can help spark their interest in reading, writing, and math. Every child is unique and every child learns in his or her own way. With this groundbreaking guide, you'll be able to help your child thrive, in school and life.

ISBN: 9781684030989
Publication date: 01/07/2018
Price: $39.99
Author: Franklin, Daniel
Format: Paperback